EVP REPORT – 8th BIENNIAL CONVENTION

ONTARIO FEDERATION OF LABOUR

http://www.ofl.ca/

Douglas-Coldwell Foundation – www.dcf.ca

The Ontario Federation of Labour was held during the week November 21-25, 2005 . The following UNDE members attended:

John MacLennan, National President, Mary Chamberlain, Executive Vice President and Dan Verreault, Vice President PSP

NCR: Bob Champoux, VP NCR, Enza Ricci, Kevin Foran, Irene Carroll-Cummings, Gord Eastman, Glen Walley, Zelma Buckley, Jeff Wrinn, Donna Henderson, Claude Bertrand and Pat McGrath

Ontario: Debbie Nadeau, VP Ontario, Jacques Seguin, Serge Desbiens, Lawrence Laamanan, Lori Baker, Bob King, Barry Turner and Lisa Wilcox

CSE: Kevin McNeil, A/VP CSE and Clay Joyce

Elections: Wayne Samuelson, acclaimed President; Irene Harris, acclaimed Secretary-Treasurer; Terry Downey, acclaimed Vice President

Highlights of the week : The address by Jack Layton, Leader of the Federal NDPs on the importance of the upcoming election and the always welcomed addressed by Howard Hampton, Leader of the Provincial NDPs.

In addition to the following resolutions, Policy papers were carried in support of Pensions, Equality, Health Care and the Apprenticeship Program.

Labour & Labour Policy

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED:

That the OFL and its affiliates launch a campaign to pressure the Ontario government to restore card based certification to all workers of the province.

That the OFL and it affiliates provide whatever support necessary to assist UFCW Canada it its ongoing campaign to organize Wal-Mart.

That the OFL and its affiliates immediately call on the provincial government to address poor housing conditions for seasonal agriculture workers in this province by implementing provincial guideline and enforcement mechanisms.

That the OFL will convene a meeting of the ranking officers of the affiliates to discuss how we can support the UFCW to organize Wal-Mart; that the OFL will study the establishment of a special financial fund to support organizing efforts in the financial and retail sectors.

That the OFL call on the provincial government to extend full collective bargaining rights to part-time college workers; that the OFL encouraged to support the OPSEU part-time college workers campaign; that the OFL affiliated unions support OPSEU in its campaign to organize these workers.

www.collegeworkers.org

Economic Policy

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED:

That the OFL calls on the provincial, federal governments and their various departments to develop comprehensive industrial policies for Ontario that include: a priority on investment in training, a development of Green/Environmental industries and trade agreements that prioritize health and safety rights, environmental rights and laws and the rights of workers to organize, to collectively bargain.

That the OFL and affiliates will develop an industrial strategy based on labour’s agenda for jobs, which included: full employment with absolute rights to unionize, public ownership of key industrial sectors, resources and industry, controls to ensure employees are not negatively impacted while corporate profits exist. The OFL and affiliates will lobby government to endorse and implement this strategy.

Workers’ Compensation/Disabilities

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED:

That the OFL strongly condemn Ontario ’s Liberal government for misleading injured workers and denying them justice; that the OFL and affiliates make the campaign to achieve justice for Ontario ’s injured workers a foremost priority and engage in sustained mass action supporting Ontario ’s injured workers rights for justice.

That the OFL urgently demand that the Ontario government immediately increase ODSP [Ontario Disabilities Support Program] funding and improve administrative support so that people on disabilities who are seeking work will have the community supports that they need.

That the OFL press the Ontario government to amend the Employment Standards Act to reflect s. 81.18 to 81.20 of the Quebec Labour Standards Act concerning workplace psychological harassment and that it add violence regulations to the Occupational Health and Safety Act.

That the OFL support UNITE HERE’s “Stop the Pain” campaign for hotel room attendants.

Health Care Policy

That the OFL and affiliates lobby the Ontario government to stop the implementation of closure plans for the Huronia, Rideau and Southwestern Regional Centres for the Developmentally Disabled.

That the OFL demand that the McGuinty government: 1. rescind directives denying people who have already received the special diet supplement to continue receiving it; 2. rescind directives making the special diet supplement less accessible to applicants; and 3. extend a $250 increase to all social assistance recipients immediately. 4. That the OFL encourages affiliates to support local groups involved in special diet campaigns.

Education and Training

That the OFL, in conjunction with the ATU, lobby the Ontario government to ensure that there is dedicated funding for employee training, increased security personnel for surveillance technology and that the criminal code be amended to have a minimum sentence for, and bar the use of plea bargains in relation to, assaults on public transit and inter-city bus drivers.

That the marketing of commercial products or services to students in publicly supported schools be prohibited.

International Affairs

That the OFL and affiliates work closely together on campaigns with non-governmental organizations and community organizations supporting labour and human rights in Colombia .

That the OFL reaffirms its commitment to democratic voting reform and its endorsement of Fair Vote Canada .

Social Policy

That the OFL continue to support the OCBCC (Ontario Coalition for Better Child Care) in the campaign it will undertake over the next year to improve Best Start for working parents and their children.

That the OFL endorse the PSAC campaign to get the Canada Revenue Agency to reverse their decision to cut these services.

That the OFL lobby the provincial government to place a moratorium on the opening of any addition agency stores south of Hwy 141 and 60; that agency stores with annual alcohol sales over $750,000 be converted to LCBO outlets at the end of their contracted term; and that the OFL and affiliates support OPSEU public education campaigns to strengthen the LCBO as a publicly owned and operated retail system.

That the OFL through its Social Services Committee, and working with affiliate unions, develop a campaign that involves community agencies, municipal social services, other municipal workers and coalition partners to expose this privatization of the Liberals and fight to end it, thereby protecting our members’ jobs and public services for the most vulnerable in Ontario.

Internal Affairs

That the OFL organize a one day symposium to develop an action plan and province-wide campaign to pressure the provincial government to continue funding proxy pay equity in the broader public sector.

That the OFL and its affiliates join with the CEP “A life free of Violence – Its our right” campaign to ensure the Ontario government: implements the recommendations; makes harassment a hazard under the Occupational Health & Safety Act, including appropriate training programs at the workplace; proclaims the first week of June as sexual harassment education/awareness week in Ontario.

Pension Policy

That if the Liberal government fails to deliver on the changes requested by the affiliates, the OFL will come out in active support of mass action organized by OMERS’ affiliates in defence of the pensions of 350,000 workers and pensioners across the province.

Constitution

That Article IV Section 4 of the constitution be amended by adding the following words after and two delegates from each local labour council plus a youth delegate aged 30 or younger; and that the OFL will call upon labour councils and affiliates to actively recruit youth as delegates to labour councils and labour council executive boards.

That Article IV Section 13(b) be amended to read: Any resolution to be accepted shall be received by the Federation vial mail, facsimile, in person or email and must be submitted by the Executive Board or by and organization affiliated to the Federation and signed by the presiding officer. A resolution shall not deal with more than one subject, shall refer to the action which is proposed, and shall not contain more than 150 words exclusive of the words “whereas” therefore be it resolved” and “therefore be it further resolved”.

Emergency Resolutions

The Blue Man Group - That the OFL, on behalf of all delegates to this convention, demand that the Sheraton Centre remove all reference to The Blue Man Group from all its promotional material, including materials placed in guest rooms.

Alternative Secondary School Diploma - That the OFL urges the government to reconsider its commitment to an alternate diploma and to explore other strategies to ensure that all secondary students graduate with the same Ontario Secondary School Diploma.

Contracting Out / Service Canada and P3s - That the OFL, through the CLC, makes these attacks on jobs and services to Canadians an election issue by: distributing information to affiliated locals about what is at stake; mobilization of affiliate support for PSAC action; make these cuts an election issue by public statement and at public forums.

Crisis in the Forest Industry - That the OFL call an emergency meeting of all affiliate unions in the Forest Industry to develop a comprehensive action plan to assist us in our battle with government and industry, so that we can work together to stop the devastation that our members, their families, and communities are facing.

Violence in the Streets – That the OFL and its affiliates support the summit called by the Coalition of African Canadian Organizations; Lobby government to repair the social infrastructure in low income neighborhoods and promote meaningful job creation; Encourage affiliates to establish mentoring and internship programs, create apprenticeship and career development opportunities for racialized groups in both private and public sectors.

In Solidartiy,

M.L. Chamberlain
UNDE EVP